Ludvig "Luddy" Emanuel Harrigan Jr. was born on April 12, 1936 and died on Oct. 16, 2014.
Ludvig Emanuel Harrigan Jr. was born in New York April 12, 1936. He is the son of Mildred C. Faris Harrigan and Virgin Islands community leader Ludvig Emanuel Harrigan Sr. Mildred was from St. Thomas, while Ludvig Sr. was from Christiansted, St. Croix (both are deceased).
He graduated from Christiansted Grammar School and then Christiansted High School in 1953. He later married childhood sweetheart Annette Astrid Nielsen (now deceased) in 1958, and had two children: Mildred Harrigan Tutein and Annette Harrigan.
In his youth, Harrigan worked as a baggage handler for Carib Airlines while living on St. Croix. He also drove taxi cabs until he left the island with his family to pursue different opportunities around 1957-58. Harrigan proudly served in the US. Army before he worked for Pan American Airways in New York. He moved back to St. Croix with his family where he worked for Caribbean Atlantic Airlines, where he later rose to the position of assistant station manager. Harrigan later moved back to New York with his family in 1964 where he began working for American Airlines as a ticketing agent. While there, he obtained his B.A. degree at Brooklyn College.
Harrigan was later sought out by Melvin Evans, the then governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, to head the tourism office in New York in 1971. At that time, Harrigan was still working for American Airlines. He wisely took a leave of absence from the airlines to head the tourism office, located in Rockefeller Center, N.Y.
While there, he realized that he had made a good career change, and he became a permanent fixture within the Virgin Islands Tourism Office. He implemented new ideas with an aggressive focus on marketing and promotions. As the director of tourism for the V.I., he traveled the world several times over, promoting St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John.
Harrigan was later asked to open the Miami office in 1976, which he did seamlessly. While living in Coral Gables, he studied: travel and tourism, hotel management, hotel accounting, marketing and business law at Florida International University. Harrigan had four successful years while living in Florida.
As an accomplished jazz musician who mastered playing the trumpet, he was also able to realize his passion by playing in local bands back in the 50s and 60s, and in several night clubs as a "sit in" during his stay in Miami. Harrigan’s love for jazz was an integral part of his life. Also, he personally knew many jazz greats such as Miles Davis and Tito Puente, to name a few.
In 1980, Ludvig was asked to open the tourism office in Los Angeles — with the intent of moving back to Miami. Once he arrived on the west coast, Harrigan fell in love with California. He decided to stay and run the western region office in 1986. He later met Judith Averett, who worked for a travel agency, and they developed a lifelong relationship, which resulted in their marriage in 2013. They enjoyed dining out and enjoying live jazz concerts together. He also enjoyed spending time with his grandson Elijah, who also lives in California with his mother, Annette.
Ludvig Emanuel Harrigan Jr., of Mar Vista, California, died on Oct. 16 at Memorial Hospital West, Pembroke Pines, Fla., at the age of 78. He was on a journey with his wife, Judith, to visit his grandchildren, Joey and Jenna, and his great grandchildren. They had planned to then go on to St. Croix to see his sister, Ruth. While in Florida, Harrigan succumbed to a change in his health, and his life journey ended.
Harrigan leaves behind a legacy of dedication to his home, the Virgin Islands. Although he left there as a young man, he worked tirelessly to help its economy through tourism. He is most remembered for his intellect, love and knowledge of politics, quick humor, love for jazz, love for his friends and family, and a larger than life personality. He had an uncanny way of touching all those that came within his presence. Harrigan will be missed and was loved dearly by his wife, children, grandchildren, great grands, sister, extended family and dearest friends. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
He is survived by his spouse, Judith Averett; daughters: Mildred Yvonne Harrigan Tutein and Annette Louise Harrigan; grandchildren: Joel Heinrich Ludvig Tutein, Jenna Astrid Tutein and Elijah Emanuel Hodge; great-grandchildren: Isaiah Jahnir, Emanuel Smith, Isabel Astrid Tutein and Jaehlon A’jai Bleu Peters; sister, Dr. Ruth Harrigan Beagles; nephew: John Howard Beagles and wife Karen; great nieces: Rudi Joycelyn Beagles and Alicia Symone Belardo; great nephews: Anthony Michael Beagles, and Jared Chance Beagles; and remaining friends and relatives too numerous to mention.
Ludvig Harrigan will be memorialized at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, at the First Lutheran Church of Venice in California. His beloved grandson, Elijah Hodge, will proudly present his eulogy.
